Midnight Zoo: Concert Review

When I came up with the concept for this blog, I figured that I’d start with a bang and give a whole concert review, then settle down and only write about the main act from then on. There simply isn’t enough time to include all the support acts, I thought. But after tonight’s show, where I got my first introduction to two new bands I’m already excited to see again soon, there’s no doubt in my mind: we need to talk about the support acts.

This is what happened at Dice’s Midnight Zoo show at The Tivoli on October 19th, 2024.

The Velvet Club

I’m feeling grateful that even though The Velvet Club has only performed at half of the shows on this tour, I lucked out and got to one of the gigs they are at! The band instantly lights up the stage with a gleaming energy transported out to the crowd in the form of a wistful indie-rock sound. The Velvet Club showcases their ability to provide an emotional experience without pausing the energy-building momentum that an audience needs to break the ice at the start of a night. Their lighter songs, highlighting the dreamy vocals of singer AJ Tilyard, relax the crowd but wake them up instead of rocking them to sleep. Mixed with a healthy dose of energetic rock to get the heart pumping and feet moving, the range of the band could easily entertain an audience for the length of a headline set. I’ll be keeping an eye out for The Velvet Club in 2025!

Fave song: Love Me The Same

Le Shiv

Now that the tension had been broken, we had a short turn around while the stage was set for Le Shiv. This band had a COMPLETELY different energy, and not one I usually give a lot of time to in my music preferences. Coming out the gates with a heavier grunge-rock sound, the band evokes a sense of nostalgia for the mid-2000s, expanding and reworking this throughout the set. I was struck most by Trouble which had a distinct lighter, almost romantic, sound and could easily form the basis of a crowd-uniting sing-along in a sunset slot of a festival in the near future. Le Shiv’s energy is entertaining and infectious and they’re another band I’m eager to hear more from – luckily their upcoming EP (un)adored is the perfect excuse for a tour and you’ll be able to catch an intimate gig in November!

Fave song: Trouble

DICE

It’s not often that artists hit the road for a nationwide tour twice in one year. DICE seemed eager to oblige us with another tour celebrating the release of their album Midnight Zoo, following their Quick To Judge single tour earlier this year. Once again, those pop punk vocals that remind me of early-days Panic At The Disco blended excitingly with the darkly suave indie rock sound the band carries through many of their songs. On the radio, their music gives listeners the impression that this band is cool (like, too cool). But seeing them perform on stage, with each member – Ben, Sam, Tom and Regan – bearing some of the biggest grins you see on stage. It’s clear that they love their work, even more that the audience loves it too! Adoring fans were easily able to sing back the lyrics to some of the band’s most iconic songs – Double Espresso, Eyes Ahead and Reality serving as some examples. With excellent stage presence, the band proves that you don’t need glitz and glam to put on an engaging song. You just need to connect with your fans, which they do perfectly with exciting instrumentation, insightful lyricism, and an optimistic attitude towards your craft. With some international dates to come, I hope the band finishes the year on a high leaving them ready to do it all again soon!

Fave song: Stop Sign

Sounds good?

The Velvet Club, Le Shiv and DICE are bands on the rise. Get into them quickly, because they’re all still easy to get a front row spot for but I know this won’t be the case for much longer. Check out Le Shiv’s upcoming tour dates and invite a friend to go to their gig with you! You might also enjoy:

Great Gable – Another beloved WA band with a cool kid, beachy sound. They’ve got dates set for next year, so there’s time to get into them and get tix to the gig.

The Lazy Eyes – If you like the psychedelic vibes that come out in some of the music of DICE or Le Shiv, you might like some of that vibe from The Lazy Eyes as well.

Ethanol Blend – With some sincere and uplifting songs, Ethanol Blend is also on the rise after supporting Hockey Dad on their Rebuild Repeat tour earlier this year. With a heavier rock sound, they’re great to tap your feet to.